Tag Archives: UN Publications

“10 Solutions to Help Meet the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific.”
This is a story of people and countries already on the way towards realizing the promises of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Progress has of course not come without challenges: a widening divide between the wealthiest and poorest people, consumption and production patterns that threaten people and the environment, and the world’s greatest vulnerability to natural disasters. This publication shows how transformation can work. The stories on the following pages have all yielded lasting, far-reaching results, and accelerated early progress on multiple SDGs.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNDP
pp.40

“Myth-busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa.”
This paper summarizes evidence on six perceptions associated with cash transfer programming, using eight rigorous evaluations conducted on large-scale government unconditional cash transfers in sub-Saharan Africa, under the Transfer Project. Specifically, we investigate if transfers: 1) induce higher spending on alcohol or tobacco; 2) are fully consumed (rather than invested); 3) create dependency (reduce participation in productive activities); 4) increase fertility; 5) lead to negative community-level economic impacts (including price distortion and inflation), and 6) are fiscally unsustainable. We present evidence refuting each claim, leading to the conclusion that these perceptions – insofar as they are utilized in policy debates – undercut potential improvements in well-being and livelihood strengthening among the poor, which these programs can bring about in sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. We conclude by underscoring outstanding research gaps and policy implications for the continued expansion of unconditional cash transfers in the region and beyond.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: Unicef
eISSN: 2520-6796
pp. 40

“Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2017.”
The developing economies of the Asian and Pacific region currently account for about a third of the world’s output. But, a number of challenges and risks have become apparent. The benefits of economic expansion have accrued relatively less to the poor. Additionally, expansion of decent jobs continues to remain a challenge, and the region currently is falling behind the rest of the world in terms of social protection financing and coverage. Moreover, economic growth has come at a steep environmental cost. In the Survey for 2017, a proactive fiscal policy is advocated that could help address these challenges through productive investments in such areas as infrastructure, social protection and resource efficiency. The importance of effective governance is also highlighted as it affects fiscal management.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: ESCAP
ISBN: 978-92-1-060367-6
pp.130

“Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme – Annual Report 2016.”
Since the Syrian war began about 250,000 refugees have crossed into Iraq. The conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has also forced 3.3 million Iraqis to leave their homes. Nearly a third of the Iraqi population needs humanitarian aid. This 2016 annual report details the work, goals and achievements of the ICRRP (Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme) , which has a five strand approach and focuses its work on a) improved crisis response, b) improved basic services, c) improved livelihoods, d) protection of the vulnerable groups, and e) social cohesion.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNDP
pp.38

“Data for Children Strategic Framework.”
Effective use of data can help us not just track results for children, but also shape those results with better insights about what’s working, what’s not, which children are thriving and which are being left behind. The framework begins with UNICEF’s approach to data work: laying out the necessity of a demand-driven model that maintains an appropriate balance between demand for, supply and use of data. It also provides an outline of the changes that UNICEF needs to make in the coming years. The document concludes with key issues that UNICEF country offices should consider in plotting their own data investments in the coming years.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNICEF
pp.17

“At the root of exodus: Food security, conflict and international migration.”
International migration reached a total of 244 million individuals in 2015 alone. Forced displacement has also reached a record high, with 65.3 million individuals displaced worldwide by the end of 2015. The study found out that countries with the highest level of food insecurity, coupled with armed conflict, have the highest outward migration of refugees. The report estimates that refugee outflows per 1000 population increase by 0.4 percent for each additional year of conflict, and increase by 1.9 percent for each percentage increase of food insecurity. Food insecurity was also shown as a significant determinant of the incidence and intensity of armed conflict.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: WFP
pp. 76

“Asia-Pacific countries with special needs development report 2017.”
Thirty-six economies in the Asia-Pacific region are least developed countries, landlocked developing countries or Small Island developing States. This report highlights the importance of infrastructure in achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development, and analyses the scale of infrastructure deficits and associated financing requirements in these countries. It focuses on four sectors of physical infrastructure that are particularly important to development: transport; energy; information and communications technology (ICT) and water supply and sanitation, as infrastructure development in these sectors has direct implications for economic activities, social development and environmental sustainability.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: ESCAP
ISBN: 978-92-1-060456-7
pp.88

“Employer-migrant worker relationships in the Middle East: Exploring scope for internal labour market mobility and fair migration.”
This paper offers a way of analyzing the employer-migrant worker relationship under the kafala sponsorship system. It argues that reforming the sponsorship systems in a way which disassociates a worker’s immigration status from their employer’s control, and enables a migrant worker to resign or terminate his/ her employment contract by giving reasonable notice and without losing valid immigration status, can have significant economic, social and administrative benefits. The paper also presents a series of suggested evidence-based policy measures for reform of current sponsorship systems, which may enhance internal labour market mobility and promote fair migration.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: ILO
ISBN: 9789221306771
pp.26

“Counting pennies: A review of official development assistance to end violence against children.”
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, peaceful, nurturing and enabling environment. But this is not the case for millions of children across the world that experience violence every day. Violence against children costs up to US$7 trillion a year. This report estimates that in 2015, US$238 million was spent on projects that fully address violence against children. The main recommendation from this study is for individual donors to systematically track spending to end violence against children as a separate category.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNICEF/UNSRSGVAC
pp.39

“IOM Middle East and North Africa Regional Strategy 2017–2020.”
In its 2017‒2020 Strategy for MENA, IOM follows the principles and objectives of the Migration Governance Framework, which was endorsed by IOM Member States in 2015.3 The present document also outlines sub-regional priorities for North Africa, the Mashreq and the Gulf countries. Lastly, the strategy specifies crosscutting issues and institutional principles that IOM adheres to throughout its work to maximize organizational effectiveness.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: IOM
pp.28

“Understanding masculinities: Results from The International Men and Gender Equality Survey.”
How are men of all ages, and younger men compared to older men, reacting to the gradual but significant improvement in the position of women and girls in the region? The study examines men’s – and women’s – attitudes and practices related to a range of key issues, including support for gender equality, support for women’s rights policies, household decision-making, use of various forms of gender-based violence in the Middle East and North Africa.SUMMARYBibliographic info:
Publisher: UN Women
pp.29

“The impact of disasters on agriculture: Addressing the information gap.”
In developing countries, agriculture absorbs 23 percent of the total damage and losses. In between 2005 and 2014, approximately USD 93 billion was lost in crop and livestock production due to natural hazards and disasters in developing countries. This affects food security and causes additional disruptions throughout the value chains. A thorough analysis of existing trends in agricultural production and related distortions in production volumes and patterns due to disasters is a key starting point. The report also highlighted the need for deeper analysis, more thorough data and the construction of a coherent information system.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: FAO
pp.28

“Jobs Make the Difference – Expanding Economic Opportunities for Syrian Refugees and Host Communities.”
More than 11 million Syrians have been displaced. Host communities throughout the region and within Syria have been generous in their support for refugees and internally displaced people. For example, under the umbrella of P4P, Germany supported the creation of more than 60,000 jobs in the region during 2016. These projects enable both refugees and host communities to find employment. The report provides pragmatic, empirically grounded evidence to support efforts by the three key actors—host nations, the international donor community and the private sector—in achieving the ambitious goal of creating 1.1 million new jobs by 2018. The report also simultaneously acknowledges the responsibility partners have in taking measures now to mitigate dangerous survival strategies for the most vulnerable.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: WFP/ILO/UNDP
ISBN: 978 921 126423 4
pp:132

“Global citizenship education: topics and learning objectives.”
UNESCO has produced the Global Citizenship Education: Topics and Learning Objectives following the global dialogue between decision-makers, leading experts and innovative practitioners to offer pedagogical guidance on the implementation of GCED.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNESCO
ISBN: 978-92-3-100102-4
pp:74

“Privacy, Free Expression and Transparency.”
This issue is the seventh edition of UNESCO’s flagship series of publications of Internet Freedom. This publication explores these issues in the context of UNESCO’s new approach to Internet issues. The approach was adopted by our 195 Member States in November 2015, and is based on the Outcome Document of an earlier conference called CONNECTing the Dots. The study analyses the legal framework, current mechanisms for balancing rights, and specific issues, cases and trends. It also covered are the interplay and interactions between multiple players—e.g. the State agents, Internet users, ICT companies, civil society organizations, the judiciary and the security services.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNESCO
ISBN: ISBN 978-92-3-100188-8
pp: 139

“DPA 2016 Annual Report: Multi-Year Appeal.”
The Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) enables the United Nations Department of Political Affairs to secure resources for vital, yet unpredictable, aspects of its work. This 2016 Annual Report details some of the progress made possible through the very generous support of our partners. The report also highlights progress made under the goals and objectives of our 2016-2019 Strategic Plan.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UN Dep of Political Affairs
pp:39

“Innocenti: 2016 Results Report.”
2016 saw significant achievements across all areas of Innocenti’s work, delivered by our committed team of researchers, analysts, and communications and operations specialists, working in collaboration with a wide range of partners. Evidence of the impact of our research and its uptake within and beyond the organization is visible at multiple levels – from the work of country and regional offices, to influence on government policies and global debates, incorporating children or child-related concerns into academic research and policy.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNICEF Office of Research
ISBN: 978-88-6522-053-5

“Averting risks to the food chain – A compendium of proven emergency prevention methods and tools.”
FAO with its partners developed a set of tools to monitor transboundary threats, such as the Desert Locust Information Service, the Global Early Warning System for animal diseases, the Food Chaim Crisis forecasting tool, the EMPRES-i Global Animal Disease Information System, and several others. FAO is using new technologies to report and predict threats using GIS, risk modelling and mobile phone applications. FAO also manages transboundary threats through contingency planning, zoning and information on regional movement of products, animals and plants, vaccination, environmentally sound control technologies, and integrated pest management.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: FAO
ISBN: 978-92-5-109539-3
pp: 103

“Skills for Life + Appropriate Technology for Children and Youth in Emergencies: Trainer Guide.”
Research has shown that young people in schools benefit from special programmes that teach life skills. This manual does more than teach life skills, it provides training on how to make useful items from recycled items using appropriate technology. These items will help children and youth during emergencies to live a healthy and happy life.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNESCO
pp: 61

“Human Development Report 2016 Human Development for Everyone.”
The report finds that although average human development improved significantly across all regions from 1990 to 2015, one in three people worldwide continue to live in low levels of human development as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: having a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and enjoying a decent standard of living.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNDP
ISBN: 978-92-1-060036-1
pp. 271

“The Rights of indigenous peoples in Asia.”
This report seeks to draw a realistic picture of major trends and challenges, and identifies important new opportunities in the framework of the new global agendas on sustainable development and climate action, which call for specific attention regarding the rights and concerns of indigenous peoples.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: ILO
ISBN: 978-92-2-130490-6
pp.88SUMMARY

“Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work.”
This report considers the impact of telework/ICT-mobile work on the world of work. It synthesises research carried out by Eurofound’s network of European correspondents and ILO country experts. The incidence of T/ICTM is related not only to technological developments in different countries but also to existing economic structures and cultures of work. The report also classifies T/ICTM employees in relation to their place of work (home, office or another location) and the intensity and frequency of their work using ICT outside the employer’s premises.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: ILO, Eurofound
ISBN: 978-92-2-130472-2
pp. 72

“Global tuberculosis report 2016.”
WHO has published a global TB report every year since 1997. The main aim of the report is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessmentof the TB epidemic, and of progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease at global, regional and country levels.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: WHO
ISBN: 978 92 4 156539 4
pp. 201

“Climate Change Resilience: An Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities.”
Inequalities cause and exacerbate climate impacts on poor and vulnerable people The World Economic and Social Survey 2016: Climate Change Resilience —an Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities (#WESS2016), found that governments can play a significant role in reducing the risks of climate change to vulnerable populations. Through transformative policies, the report shows that governments could address the root causes of inequalities and build climate change resilience.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UN DESA
ISBN: 978-92-1-058231-5
pp.156

“State of Least Developed Countries 2016.”
The current report builds on the first and second editions, which considered the issues of productive capacity building as well as extreme poverty eradication in the least developed countries (LDCs) and the post-2015 development agenda. These reports provided analysis relating to the inclusion of LDC issues in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. This year’s report is dedicated to the implementation of the SDGs in LDCs using synergies with the IPoA.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UN-OHRLLS
pp.100

“Global Education Monitoring Report 2016.”
The 2016 GEM Report is the first of a new 15-year series. It shows that education will not deliver its full potential to catapult the world forward unless participation rates dramatically improve, learning becomes a lifelong pursuit and education systems fully embrace sustainable development. It provides valuable insight for governments and policy makers to monitor and accelerate progress towards SDG 4, building on the indicators and targets we have, with equity and inclusion as measures of overall success.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNESCO
ISBN: 978-92-3-100167-3
pp. 535

“The State of the World’s Children 2016.”
As we look around the world today, we’re confronted with an uncomfortable but undeniable truth: Millions of children’s lives are blighted. The data in this report show, unless we accelerate the pace of our progress in reaching them, the futures of millions of disadvantaged and vulnerable children – and therefore the future of their societies – will be imperilled. This report concludes with five ways to strengthen our work, building on what we have learned over the last 25 years – and what we are still learning: Increasing information about those being left behind.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNICEF
ISBN: 978-92-806-4838-6
pp: 172

“World Drug Report 2016”
The World Drug Report 2016 is published in the wake of the landmark moment in global drug policy, the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem. Chapter I provides a global overview of the supply of and demand for opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health. It also reviews the scientific evidence on polydrug use, treatment demand for cannabis and developments since the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in some parts of the world.Bibliographic info:
Publisher: UNODC
ISBN: 978-92-1-057862-2
pp: 107, 66 Annexes

“World Cities Report 2016”The analysis of urban development of the past twenty years presented in this maiden edition of the World Cities Report shows, with compelling evidence, that there are new forms of collaboration and cooperation, planning, governance, finance and learning that can sustain positive change. The Report unequivocally demonstrates that the current urbanization model is unsustainable in many respects. It conveys a clear message that the pattern of urbanization needs to change in order to better respond to the challenges of our time, to address issues such as inequality, climate change, informality, insecurity, and the unsustainable forms of urban expansion.

“World Health Statistics 2016: Monitoring health for the SDGs”The World Health Statistics series is WHO’s annual compilation of health statistics for its 194 Member States. World Health Statistics 2016 focuses on the proposed health and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets. It represents an initial effort to bring together available data on SDG health and health-related indicators. In the current absence of official goal-level indicators, summary measures of health such as (healthy) life expectancy are used to provide a general assessment of the situation.